Motor-vehicle engine-supporting structure



Feb; 19 1924.

` A. T. STURT MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed June 5,1922 Patented Feb. 19, 1924i.

RATED, A COR-POicLTION DEE Application fue@ um s,

To all 107mmv t may concern:

Be it known thatl l, ALrRnD T. STURT, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Flint, county ofrGenesee, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Motor-Vehicle Engine-Supporting Structures, of which the foilowing is a specification.

This invention relatesV to motor vehiclesl and particularly to improvedmeans for sup porting the engines of such vehicles.

@ne object of the invention is to provide a support for the engine whichis light in weight yet amply strong to form a rigid foundation ormounting for said engine.

Another object is to provide means f or supporting the engine so thatvibration will be reduced to a minimum. A further object is to provide astructure whereby the engine can be so mounted that its center ofgravity is low thus improving the riding qualities of the vehicle andtending to help the vehicleto hold the road when traveling at a highspeed or when making sharp turns. Another object is to combine thevarious parts so as to perform the functions set forth. A

These and other objects are attained in the structure hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which illustrateone embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings in which similar parts are identied by similarcharacters in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a top plan showing an engine supported by my improvedstructure.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. transverse vertical section on line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

The supporting structure in general terms comprises longitudinal sidemembers 10 and 12 which form part of the chassis, a front transversemember 14, diagonal braces 16 and 18 secured at their ends respectivelyto the front member 14 and to the side members 10 and 12, and anothertransverse member 2O secured to said side members. The engine 22 issupported at the front end by the diagonal braces 16 and 18 and at therear by the transverse member 20.

The supporting members are all made of pressed steel which is light inweight yet amply strong enough to rigidly support the -UCURE.

1822. Serial No. 585,754.

low.

The side members are of channel cross section as showi in Fig. 3. andthe transverse member iff and diagonal members 16 and 18 are of simiiarshape in cross section. At each end the member le is pro vided withintegral ears and 2t. the ears 21- being formed by bending a right angieportion from the web 28 of the member and the ears 26 being formed bybending over he ends of the top iange of saidmei` These ears are securedto the webs of the side members by rivets 82 and 841- as shown in Figs.1 and 2.

rlhe inner ends of the diagonal braces 1G and 18 are out away at 86 and88 so that the ends 40 and 42 of the lower flanges of said braces canextend under the lower fiance 31 of the member let. rihese ends are secred to said flange by rivets L14. Fiars t6 and L1-8 are bent out fromthe web portions 50 of the braces 16 and 18 and are secured to the web28 of the member 1i by suitable rivets 50. The outer ends of the braces1G and 18 are each formed with integral ears 52 and 54 which are securedto the ad jacent side members 10 and 12 by rivets 56. As shown in Fig. 2the diagonal braces are disposed lower than the top of the side members.This arrangement affords a comparatively low support for the front ofthe engine which is provided with front sup,- porting lugs 58 and 60which are secured to the braces 16 and 18 by bolts 62 and 6&1.

The engine is supported at the rear by the member 2O and this member isso shaped shaped and associated with the side members that.

members 2() and rivets 82 and 84 pass through said ears to secure saidmember to the side members l0 and l2. Rivets S6 and 88 also pass throughsuitable holes in the ends ot the flange G8 to secure the saine to theside members.

rIhe engine is provided with rear` supporting lugs 90 and 92 which areseated on the iange 68 near the central portion thereof and suitablebolts S-land 90 are provided to securely hold the engine in placethereon.

rlihe engine carries a suitable flywheel clutch 98 and the iarts ot' thesupporting structure are so associated that thee-entrai web portion 72or the cross member 2t) serves as a guard or shield to prevent ohjectsfrom striking the flywheel or clutch and also serves to protect theflywheel clutch from the destructive action ot water, mud and dust whichthrown back as the vehiele travels iierward.

l/lihile I have described the embodiment of the invention hereinillustrated in minute detail it `is not to be construed that I amlimited to the specific construction shown, as it is clear that changesin details and substitution ot equivalents may be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the invention as delined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A motor vehicle engine supporting structure comprising longitudinalside members, a transverse member, diagonal members secured thereto andto said side members for supporting the engine at one end and a secondtransverse member coniprising a web portion and oppositely extendingflange portions, and means Jfor securing the opposite end ot the engineto the upper one of said flange portions at a lower level than the endsupported on the diagonal members.

2. A motor vehicle engine supporting struct-ure including longitudinalside menibers ot channel shape cross section, a channel shapedtransverse member having 1ntegral ears 'formed thereon which are se-Vcured to said side members, channel sl'iaped diagonal members havingintegral ears formed at the ends thereof, the ears on the inner andouter ends respectively oi:l said diagonal being secured to saidtransverse member and said longitudinal side members, said diagonalmembers being adapted to support the front o'll the engine and afinenrber for supporting the riar oijthe engine comprising a transverse memberhaving a web portion, flange portions and inteev'al ears which aresecured to said side nienib In combination with an internal coinbustionengine having a l'ly wheel clutch carried thereby,V a supportingstructure t'ror the engine including longitudinal side niembers, meanssecured thereto for supporting the engine at the front end and atransverse member secured to said side niembeis7 having a 'flange forsupporting the rear oi the engine and having a `web portion adapted toserve as a guard or shield tor the lower part of said ily wheel clutch.

il. In combination.*with an internal com".V bustion engine having a ilywheel clutch carried thereby,a supporting structure 'for the engineincluding longitudinal side niembers, means secured theretoforsupporting the engine at the front end and a transverse member securedto said side members coniprising a web portion, the central portion otY,

vtral portion of said flange.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Long Island City,county of Queens, State of New York, this 3l day ot May, 1922.

ALFRED rr. s'rnnfr.

